Back in her bedroom, Sophie gently laid Agatha on the bed. When she lifted the child's shirt, what she saw made her blood run cold.
Agatha's once flawless skin was now covered in an intricate pattern of crimson markings—a pair of wings composed of strange, swirling symbols stretching across her left chest.
*This wasn't here before.*
Sophie had bathed Agatha countless times. These markings had *never* appeared. She traced a finger over them—the skin burned feverishly, pulsing as if blood flowed just beneath the surface.
This wasn't new. These markings had been lying dormant, waiting.
And they'd awakened the moment Agatha saw the demon.
A terrible thought struck Sophie. *Could Agatha be...?*
No. That was absurd. Stories of lost princesses were just that—stories. Agatha had been rescued from slavers, half-dead from abuse. No demon royalty would suffer such a fate.
The only explanation: Agatha was half-human, half-demon.
"Whoa! What's *that*?" Charles and Milta gasped as they entered.
"Shh!" Sophie pressed a finger to her lips. "Not a word to *anyone*—not even your father. Understood, Milta?"
She couldn't risk Agatha being ostracized. Whatever her origins, Agatha was *her* child now.
Kissing Agatha's forehead, Sophie whispered, "Don't be afraid, sweetheart. Mommy's here."
"Charles, fetch Grandpa Hall. Tell him it's urgent."
As the children rushed out, Serei entered, his face drawn with worry. Seeing Agatha's condition, he reached for her forehead—then froze as Sophie revealed the markings.
"This..." Serei's voice trailed off.
"I don't know what it means," Sophie admitted. "But Hall might."
When Hall arrived, his jovial demeanor vanished the moment he saw the markings. Leaning close, he examined them with growing dread.
"Well?" Sophie pressed.
Hall sighed heavily. "In all my centuries... I've never seen anything like this."
Sophie's heart sank.
As the markings grew darker, Agatha whimpered, "Mommy... it hurts..."
Those words shattered Sophie. They were the same ones she'd spoken to *her* mother before—
No. She wouldn't lose another child.
"Hold on, baby! Mommy will fix this!"
Wild-eyed, Sophie scanned the room for anything that could help—then, without warning, dragged her nails across her own wrist.
"Sophie! NO!" Serei and Hall lunged as blood welled from the gash.
Ignoring their horrified cries, Sophie pressed her bleeding wrist to Agatha's lips. "Drink, sweetheart! It'll help!"
Healing magic sealed the wound instantly, but Sophie fought against their grip. "Let me go! My blood saved Amanda—it can save Agatha too!"
"Are you insane?" Hall roared. "You're carrying a child! If you bleed yourself dry—"
Sophie went still.
Her free hand drifted to her stomach—to the tiny life growing inside her.
If she had to choose between her unborn baby and Agatha...
Her eyes met Serei's, brimming with silent apology.
He understood.
Cupping her face, he whispered, "Whatever you decide... I'm with you."
Tears spilled down Sophie's cheeks as she addressed her belly. "Little one... Mommy's so sorry. But I have to save your sister now. If you're strong... if you hold on..."
"You're *both* mad!" Hall looked ready to tear his hair out.
None of them noticed Agatha's pain had eased.
Nor did they see her eyes flutter open—now glowing an eerie violet.
As Sophie raised her nails to slash her wrist again—
A small hand caught hers.
**Agatha sat up, her voice no longer a child's.**
**"Mother... stop."**